Emma Holderness, a single mother and Upper Hutt City councillor, is currently trying to raise $100,000 to self-fund Keytruda, an immunotherapy drug for her stage three triple-negative breast cancer. Because New Zealand’s Pharmac only publicly funds the medication for stage four cancer—despite clinical advice recommending earlier access—Holderness faces both severe financial strain and logistical hurdles, including having to travel between two different hospitals to receive her treatments separately.

While continuing to work on the council and raise her 10-year-old son, she has had to carefully manage her energy and rely on a supportive local community, friends, and coworkers for daily help and meals. Reflecting on her experience, Holderness advocates for better public awareness regarding breast density scores and calls on the government to invest more in Pharmac. She argues that removing bureaucratic barriers and considering the broader economic and social impacts of illness on the workforce would ultimately improve the entire healthcare system for patients awaiting life-saving drugs.

Emma Holderness has a givealittle page to raise the funds for Keytruda.

Read the full article on The Post: https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/361116130/most-us-dont-have-100k-councillors-quiet-fight-buy-herself-future

Source: Temera Schwass / The Post

A “thank you” to the editor at Stuff / The Post for giving The Upper Hutt Connection permission to publish summaries of their articles.

14/11/26